Debate Reactions: Romney's Funny, Perry Stumbles, Cain Stands Out

Mark Hemingway

Yes, we are a broken record. In each of the five debates, we’ve named Romney a winner. But, it’s hard to argue with the performance he gave tonight — particularly in the second hour of the debate where he was steady, presidential and, gasp, funny. Romney stumbled a bit on education — he didn’t have an answer for an attack from Texas Gov. Rick Perry on his support for “Race to the Top” — but, in the main, proved entirely unflappable. Romney avoided — again — answering any sort of tough question (or follow-up) on health care, which amounts to a victory for him. Romney is, without question, the best debater in this GOP field and this may well have been his best showing to date.

Romney remains vulnerable. And unlike Pawlenty, Perry is starting from a stronger position in the polls, so he certainly has a good chance of ultimately winning. However, he’s going to have to step up his game by showing a better grasp of the issues, more stamina in these debates, and by being able to take apart Romney’s endless contradictions. In short, Perry has not blown it, but he is blowing it.

Herman Cain’s passion and personality really stood out. Still wish he hadn’t taken the Beltway GOP line on TARP, but his personal story, business experience, humor, and faith in the American dream really do add a grass-roots Tea Party flavor to an otherwise bland establishment field.

It’s a disgrace that, in the course of two very long hours, not a single segment was devoted to the looming catastrophe in Europe and what our contenders plan to do to contain the damage from it if they’re elected. Pitiful.